An Examination Intergenerational Controversies and the Concerns of the Youths in Hong Kong under the Socio-Political Disturbances

The well-being and feelings of the young people of Hong Kong in recent years have attracted the attention of the government officials,
parents, educators and social workers who are concerned about both their emotional well-being and future prospects in pursuing career development and further education. These are particularly critical in the face of the 2019 political crisis in which the youths are the core of the protesters and the growing divisions not only between citizens with different political stances, but also between the younger and older generations. Besides feeling not optimistic about their future and rating low in national identity, many Hong Kong youths also hold suspicious views towards the older generation as they accuse them for being too politically conservative and not empathetic to their grievances. Those from the older generations, on the other hand, criticize the youths for disturbing social stability and not patriotic towards the Chinese nation. The controversies over constitutional development, the extradition bill, questions on nation identity, competitive labor market, and continuously rising housing costs are the core areas of controversies. This chapter examines the discourses by young people and older people in viewing the socio-political issues concerning Hong Kong, reviews major research studies conducted in Hong Kong on young people’s attitudes towards the society, and explores possible resolutions to mediate the intergenerational controversies and support the youths in the face of the socio-political challenges effectively.